diff --git a/arch/riscv/cpu/cpu.c b/arch/riscv/cpu/cpu.c
index ae57fb8..d9f820c 100644
--- a/arch/riscv/cpu/cpu.c
+++ b/arch/riscv/cpu/cpu.c
@@ -6,6 +6,12 @@
 #include <common.h>
 #include <asm/csr.h>
 
+/*
+ * prior_stage_fdt_address must be stored in the data section since it is used
+ * before the bss section is available.
+ */
+phys_addr_t prior_stage_fdt_address __attribute__((section(".data")));
+
 enum {
 	ISA_INVALID = 0,
 	ISA_32BIT,